Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Deputy Mayor of Tuam Larry Bane
officially launched the Green-Schools Sustainable Travel poster display in Tuam
library on November 5th 2013. The five schools participating in the
poster display are Belmont N.S., Milltown; Kilconly N.S., Kilconly; St.
Colman’s N.S., Cummer; Scoil Naomh Fursa, Claran, Headford and St. Vincent’s
N.S., Collarne. The posters depict environmentally-friendly modes of school
transport to school, including walking, cycling, car-sharing and public
transport as an alternative to the private car on the school run. In promoting
sustainable travel to school the Green-Schools Travel programme aims to
increase the health and fitness of the school community, improve safety on the
journey to school, reduce traffic congestion at the school gates and reduce the
school’s carbon footprint. There were 18,000 less students coming to school by
car per day in schools participating in the Green-Schools travel programme last
year; this is enough people to fill 50 luas trams.

Deputy Mayor Larry Bane opened
the proceedings by welcoming everyone. He complimented the participants on the
high standard of their work. He recounted that as a child he always walked to
school in Caherlistrane, and he had lots of fun with his friends along the
school route picking berries and nuts. He also praised the wonderful work that
is being done by Green-Schools and the Environmental Education Unit in the
Councils to promote environmental education.

Caitríona Cunningham,
Green-Schools Education Officer, advised participants to be safe and seen when
cycling or walking this winter by always wearing reflective clothes or a pair
of reflective armbands which will be seen from a distance. You are visible to a
driver 500 feet away when you are wearing reflective clothing compared to just
55 feet away when wearing dark colours. Caitríona also recommended that all
cyclists and walkers carry a flashlight or flashing safety strobes. If you’re a
cyclist, by law you must have a light in front and a red reflector in the back
before sunrise and after sunset.